Santiago de Compastela

[pcurrer]

I am interested in riding St. James' Way (Santiago de Compastela) from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago.  I can not find any English language books on the topic.  Does anyone know of resources for riders on this pilgrimage?  Peter

[indyfabz]

Some info:

http://www.caminosantiagocompostela.com/index.html#books

http://www.caminosantiagodecompostela.com/

The second link looks more detailed.

Also search here:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doctype=journal

[jfitch]

There is a cyclist's guide to the Compostela, called "The way of St. James, a Cyclist's Guide", by John Higginson. I found it on Amazon, I believe. It's quite detailed.

[jim623mo]

Visit www.americanpilgrims.com and go to the cycling page. Disclosure: I am a member of the group and edited that page. I have ridden 2 routes to Santiago Compostela.

[Galloper]

Anne Mustoe, one of the great cycling authors, wrote a book called "Amber, Fur and Cockleshells".  This is really three tour accounts in one.  The amber is about her ride down the old amber trading route from the Baltic.  The fur is about a trip along part of the old fur trappers route in the USA and the cockleshell is about her ride along the Pilgrims route to Santiago de Compestella.

Higly recommended as are all her books.

There is also a book called "Following the Sun" by John Hanson Mitchell which touches briefly on the route as part of a longer trip.

[Galloper]

PS. Most of Anne's books are available from Amazon and on Kindle.

[newfydog]

I've biked many of the pigrimage trails, twice to Santiago.  It is a wonderful ride, best done on a mountain bike.

Here's a forum with all sorts of info, including a cycling forum;

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/

The Higginson book mentioned above is one road biker's route he did roughly parallel to the trail.  It is not the way most people go, and not the experience I'd recommend.  The roads can be busy and the actual route is easy mountain biking.